Abstract: Objective To explore the effects of octacosanol on the behavioral impairments in rats with Parkinson's disease (PD) inducedby 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA). Methods The SD rats were divided into the control group (n=15), the model group (n=15), the low dosegroup (n=12), the medium dose group (n=12) and the high dose group (n=12). 6-OHDA was stereotactically injected into the right striatumof the rats at 2 sites to produce PD models. The treatment groups received octacosanol with the dose of 17.5 mg/kg, 35 mg/kg or 70 mg/kgfor 2 weeks. They were tested with apomorphine-induced rotation test, the modified Morris Water Maze, and rotarod test. Results The contralateralrotation in 30 min and escape latency were less in the medium and high dose groups than in the model group (P<0.05); the latencyand total time in the rotarod test were significantly less in all the treatment groups than in the model group (P<0.01). Conclusion Octacosanolcan decrease the impaired behaviors of rats with PD induced by 6-OHDA.

Key words: Parkinson's disease, octacosanol, 6-hydroxydopamine, behavioral tests, rats